Nick Kelly’s ‘The Drummer & the Keeper’ has received the Audience Award for best film screened at the 22nd Umbria Film Festival in Italy.

The award was picked up by leading actor Dermot Murphy after the film was given a rating of 4.65 out of 5. The screening doubled as the films Italian premiere and festival organisers are now actively looking to secure an Italian distribution deal for the IFTA winning feature.

Speaking about the award, Writer/Director Nick Kelly told IFTN:

“We’re really thrilled with this latest award, and generally with how well our story seems to resonate with international audiences. We’ve now won prizes in the UK, the USA, Britain, Germany and Italy, which is really gratifying for a story set and shot within 20 minutes of my home in Rathmines.”

‘The Drummer & the Keeper’ marks Irish writer/director Nick Kelly’s directorial debut following on from his award winning short film ‘Shoe’, which was long listed for an Academy Award in 2010.

The film was produced by Kate McColgan for Calico Pictures with support from the Irish Film Board and shot in a number of locations across Dublin including music venue Whelan’s on Camden Street & Poolbeg Strand.

‘The Drummer & The Keeper’ tells the story of the unlikely friendship formed between two young men; Gabriel, a reckless young drummer who revels in rejecting society’s rules and Christopher, a 17 year old with Asperger’s Syndrome, who yearns to fit in. This heartwarming story, shows the strength of the human bond, in the face of adversity.